Waterproof protective overshoe for golf shoes

ABSTRACT

A waterproof protective overshoe or boot adapted to be worn over a standard rubber or plastic blunted smooth bottom cleated golf shoe, the overshoe having a rugged outsole with a protruding patterned grid tread, a smooth resilient compressible flexible conforming insole for receiving the rubber or plastic cleats of a golf shoe into a corresponding number of recesses formed by the compression of the insole by the cleats locking the golf shoe in place within the protective overshoe, a double gusseted front creating a wide opening mouth for ease of putting on or taking off the boot, and a plurality of adjustable fasteners for securing the boot to the shoe clad foot of a golfer, the boot being of unitary construction and extending above the ankle of a golfer so as to be impervious to water intrusion, particularly when worn in combination with rain pants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of a non-provisional patent application having Ser. No. 10/794,614 and a Filing Date of Mar. 5, 2004, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective waterproof overshoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to protective boots or overshoes adapted to be worn over rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes with blunted or smooth, instead of sharp-edged, bottoms for the purpose of keeping a golfer's feet dry when playing golf on a wet golf course and to provide sufficient traction for play.

A conventional golf shoe is not waterproof and may have moisture or water, when a golfer plays in the rain or on a course that has been soaked by rainfall, seep into the shoe or overflow the shoe sides. Additionally, sometimes a golfer begins a round of golf on a clear day but rain or dew remains on the ground producing a highly concentrated moisture seepage problem for which most golf shoes are ill equipped to rebuff. The present invention is intended for use in such situations.

While some more expensive golf shoes are designed to be water resistant, they are typically low cut shoes that stop below the ankle. Thus, even if such shoes do not allow water to penetrate through the sole, the upper, or the seams, water may enter the shoes from the mouth of the shoe below the ankle and the golfer's foot and shoe will still get wet. Further, these water resistant shoes are much more costly that conventional golf shoes having leather or synthetic uppers.

Overshoes or boots made from elastomeric material are well known in the prior art. However, many shortcomings are evident in attempting to apply the typical overshoe to the golf scenario. These challenges are overcome by the present invention. A typical overshoe, made from rubber or other similar material, has a flimsy sole that does not provide good traction, particularly on grassy or muddy surfaces. Other overshoes, sometimes termed shoe jackets, permit the sole of the enclosed shoe to be exposed and only cover the upper portion of the shoe, thus providing an imperfect waterproofing which may allow water to seep into the overshoe from below.

Additionally, a boot or overshoe can be difficult to put on over a regular shoe, and especially over a rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe, which requires the overshoe to have a higher instep height than does an ordinary shoe. Further, many overshoes are only low cut, and do not extend up toward, or preferably, above the ankle. A golfer will normally want to wear both rain pants and waterproof shoes when playing on a wet course or in the rain, and it is imperative that the overshoe extend above the bottom of the cuff on the rain pants; otherwise, water running down the rain pants can enter the mouth of the shoe, and the entire purpose of wearing a waterproof overshoe or boot is defeated. Moreover, many of the past overshoes work only with metal or sharp-edged cleats or spikes, which would not accommodate the new style plastic blunt-edged or smooth bottom cleats, and are also no longer allowed on amateur golf courses. Further still, many boots or overshoes do not secure snugly about a user's shoe, allowing the shoe to slide around within the boot. A poorly secured overshoe may make it uncomfortable and tiring to walk any significant distance and may cause the user to be less surefooted on wet or dry surfaces.

One previously granted patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,336 [Brown], describes a removable rubber outsole that engages only the heel and toe portions of a cleated sport shoe and has an insole including a plurality of upstanding uniformly arrayed projections to engage the cleats therebetween. The drawbacks of this design are that overshoe does not cover and enclose the entire golf shoe leaving the shoe exposed to moisture. Further, this type of outsole can only be used with metal or plastic sharp-edged cleats as it is not capable of engaging the blunted or smooth bottom cleats that are now being used with all golf shoes for the reason that he spaces between each upstanding projections will only accommodate the sharp-edged cleat. Additionally, the insole array of upstanding projections does not have the ability to retain the new style cleats in position because of the lack of space between and among the projections resulting in the upstanding projections being crushed downward and outward by the new larger blunted smooth bottom cleats so that these new cleats will ride atop the crushed projections rather than be accommodated between the projections as intended for the sharp-edged metal cleats of earlier sports shoes.

Another prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 2,958,963 [Lougheed], describes a rubber golf overshoe, which is designed to only engage a portion of the heel and toe portions of the golf shoe and contains an inner sole with raised longitudinally extending ribs. These ribs permit metal or plastic sharp-edged cleats to fit between them. The drawbacks to this overshoe design are that the overshoe does not cover the entire foot of the golfer exposing the golf shoe to moisture. Further, the overshoe only accommodates metal or plastic sharp-edged cleats that are no longer allowed on the golf courses, and which will not accommodate the currently used blunted or smooth bottom cleats. Finally, the overshoe utilizes longitudinally extending ribs that are unable to accommodate the new blunted smooth bottom cleats.

Another prior apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,565 [Haley] as a low cut elastomeric overshoe with a variety of interchangeable metal plates for installation in the sole. The metal plates have either sharp metal projections or punched holes for creating traction on slippery or icy surfaces. The drawbacks of this design are that the overshoe does not extend above the ankle of the wearer. Further, any holes in the metallic sole plates will permit water intrusion into the overshoe, and ultimately into the sport shoe. Additionally, the overshoe lacks any internal means to accommodate the spikes of a golf shoe and to prevent the sliding of the golf shoe within the overshoe.

Still another earlier device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,010,558 [Slusher] as an overshoe particularly adapted for use with a spiked golf shoe. However, this design includes openings to permit clearance for the spikes of the golf shoe about which the overshoe is fitted. In addition to the drawbacks of being low cut, this overshoe will permit intrusion of water from below into the space between the overshoe and the golf shoe through the bottom openings in the overshoe, eventually allowing water to soak into the golf shoe and cause the golfer's sock and foot to become wet.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,333 [Tsen] discloses a golf overshoe extending above the ankle with a partially open sole to permit the protrusion of the golf shoe spikes. While this design provides means to snug the rim of the overshoe against the golf shoe sole to seal against water intrusion, such a seal is necessarily imperfect. Further, this overshoe includes zippers down both the front and rear to ease the insertion of a shoed foot thereinto, the zippers being covered with flaps to protect against rain intrusion. However, the flaps may not prevent water from entering the overshoe if the golfer steps into a puddle or a section of very soggy turf or very deep wet grass.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot including a fully sealed and integral sole, as well as fully sealed and integral uppers, so that even if a golfer stands in a puddle of water, there will be no intrusion or seepage of moisture to the golfer's foot. It is another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot capable of accommodating a standard rubber or plastic blunted or smooth bottom cleated golf shoe, having sufficient instep clearance and including a means to retain the golf shoe in position within the overshoe so that the golf shoe will not slide around in the boot.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe with a smooth resilient conforming insole of sufficient depth and flexibility to capture each of a number of different arrays of the rubber or plastic blunted or smooth bottom cleats of varying geometries. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe with an insole that compresses to receive and capture the cleats into a corresponding array of depressions caused by the cleats upon insertion of the golf shoe into the overshoe. It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe with an insole capable of locking the golf shoe into place upon insertion so that the golf shoe and overshoe are retained in the exact spatial relationship of one to the other making the overshoe an extension of the golf shoe. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe with an insole that is sufficiently resilient to rebound to its original shape once the overshoe is removed, allowing a variety of golf shoe cleat patterns and geometries to be accommodated in the same overshoe.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot that extends above the ankle so that water running off of rain pants cannot enter the mouth of the overshoe. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot having a durable and rugged cleated tread that provides a good grip on surfaces normally encountered on a golf course, including wet grass, mud, sand, and pavement. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot with adjustable fasteners that extend across the instep and ankle portions of the boot to provide a sufficient downward force which would prevent the golf shoe and boot portion from separating and coming out of place during play. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe boot that is easy for a golfer to put on and take off without first needing to remove his conventional rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a waterproof overshoe that has a gusset opening that extends to the toe tip in order to allow easy insertion and removal of the golf shoe and to prevent against water infusion during wear.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a waterproof overshoe boot specifically adapted for use with a conventional rubber or plastic blunted or smooth bottom cleated golf shoe. The overshoe boot is of a unitary construction, with the sole portion and boot portion forming an integral and leak free enclosure. The inside of the boot includes a smooth, resilient, conforming insole of sufficient depth and flexibility to compress upon insertion of the golf shoe and entrap the rubber or plastic cleats of varying arrays and geometries located on the outsole of a conventional golf shoe, locking the golf shoe in place, and preventing the golf shoe from sliding around inside the boot. The conforming insole is also sufficiently resilient to rebound to its original smooth shape along its upper surface once the overshoe boot is removed, so that other golf shoe cleat patterns and geometries can be accommodated in the same boot. Additionally, the instep height of the overshoe is dimensioned to be capable of fitting a cleated golf shoe.

The upper portion of the overshoe boot of the present invention extends over the foot to above the ankle, so that rain water running off rain pants will also run off the outside of the boot. Also, the closure system of the boot provides for a snug fit around the ankle that does not interfere with the pant leg of the golfer. The boot sole is sufficiently thick to give structural rigidity and to support a patterned grid tread similar to that found on hiking overshoes. The outsole tread provides traction on wet grass, in mud, in wet sand, and even on wet pavement.

The overshoe boot of the present invention is adapted for easy entry of a golf shoe clad foot due to its double gusseted opening front. A longitudinal expansion gap runs down the front of the boot for almost its entire length, from the mouth to the tip of the toe. Bridging the expansion gap, and integrally connected along its length, is a tongue in cooperation with two gusset flaps. When the boot is worn, the gusset flaps and tongue tuck neatly back behind the boot upper and inside the overshoe boot, which is fastened closed by engaging a plurality of mating hook and loop tabs, or another equivalent set of adjustable fasteners. The adjustable fasteners extend across the instep and ankle and must be closed tightly in order to provide a is sufficient downward force which would prevent the golf shoe and boot portion from separating and coming out of place during play. The conforming insole captures the golf shoe cleats, and since the boot upper is waterproof due to its integral construction, the fasteners can be adjusted by the user for comfort.

To enable insertion of a rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe into the overshoe boot, the fasteners are disengaged and the boot mouth opens widely as the tongue and gusset flaps unfold from within the overshoe boot. When the boot is fully opened, a shoed foot can readily be inserted thereinto with the cleated shoe sole planted firmly into the conforming insole of the boot. A shoed foot can be just as easily removed, by disengaging the fasteners and lifting the foot out of the overshoe boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings forms which are presently preferred; it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention in the closed state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention in the opened state, capable of receiving the shoed foot of a golfer.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the gripper outsole of the protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partially broken away view showing the insole of the protective overshoe for golf shoes of the present invention conforming to the spikes of a standard golf shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not intended in a limiting sense, and is made solely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where like numerals refer to like parts or elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a perspective view of the waterproof protective overshoe boot for golf shoes 10 in the closed state and in FIG. 2 a perspective view of the overshoe boot 10 in the opened state. The golf shoe protective overshoe 10 is a watertight boot of unitary construction, comprising a sole portion 12 integral with a boot portion 14. The overshoe 10 is preferably cast as a single piece, to ensure structural integrity and imperviousness to water, but may also be assembled from multiple panels fused together at the seams. The overshoe 10 is manufacturable in incremental sizes to enable the proper fit for the wide range of golfer foot and shoe sizes.

The boot portion 14 comprises a boot shell 26 interconnected along longitudinal seams to a tongue 16 by a pair of opposing gusset flaps 22. When the overshoe 10 is in the closed position, the gusset flaps 22 fold inward towards the user's ankle and foot, overlapping the tongue 16, with the tongue 16 and flaps 22 tucked underneath the boot shell 26 and the edges 24 of the boot shell 26 drawn into close proximity with each other, as shown in FIG. 1. The adjustable fasteners 18 extend from the inner instep across the foot to the outer instep and across the inner ankle to the outer ankle to close tightly, in order exert a sufficient downward force, which will prevent the boot portion 14 and the golf shoe 40 from separating. When the overshoe 10 is in the opened position, the gusset flaps 22 and tongue 16 unfold from underneath the boot shell 26, permitting the mouth 28 of the boot portion 14 to open widely to facilitate insertion or removal of the user's shoed foot from the overshoe 10.

As worn in the closed position, the protective overshoe 10 creates a lightweight waterproof enclosure to keep a golfer's foot dry to well above the ankle. When used in combination with standard rain pants extending below the ankle, the overshoe 10 will ensure that a golfer's shoes and feet remain dry while the golfer is outdoors in the rain, walking on rain-soaked terrain and through shallow puddles.

As illustrated in the cut-away section of FIG. 4, the sole portion 12 comprises a gripping outsole 30, a midsole 32, and a conforming insole 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the outsole 30 has a patterned or rugged tread 38, comprising an array or grid of protrusions of various geometries to enable a golfer to achieve solid non-slip footing and a firm grip on wet and slippery grass, dirt, sand, or paved surfaces, while walking or playing a shot on the golf course. The tread 38 provides the protective overshoe 10 traction equivalent to that obtained with a traditional rubber or plastic cleated golf shoe. The sole 30 may be fabricated from 70A hardness material that may be a rubber or equivalent polymeric material, approximately ¼″ thick. The overshoe 10 is preferably manufactured so that the boot shell 26 and the outsole 30 are molded as one integral unit. Alternatively, sole portion 12 and the boot portion 14 may be manufactured as separate pieces, with the perimeter of the sole 30 then being sealed to the boot shell 26 to provide an integral boot 10 that is impervious to water penetration.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the midsole 32 is a transitional means to secure the conforming insole 34 to the gripping outsole 30, and is permanently affixed to the outsole 30. The inlaid conforming insole 34 is permanently affixed to the midsole 32. If a midsole 32 is not used, the insole 34 may be affixed directly to the outsole 30.

The insole 34 is composed of a closed-cell energy absorbing material, such as soft rubber, vinyl nitrile, or another equivalent polymer composition including, without limitation, PVC, PE, EVA, SBR, EPT closed-cell foam, and high density neoprene rubber. The insole 34 has the ability to conform and compress to receive the spike or cleat design and pattern 42 of any rubber or plastic blunted or smooth bottom cleated golf shoe 40, holding the shoe 40, and consequently the golfer's foot, firmly in position by entrapping the several cleats when the protective overshoe 10 is worn. Because the insole 34 returns to its original shape when the golf shoe 40 is removed, any of a number of different golf shoes, having different cleat patterns, can be accommodated over the life of the boot 10, or from one round of golf to the next. The insole 34 should have a thickness of approximately 7/16 inches in order to accommodate the depth of, and entrap standard rubber or plastic cleats.

The sole portion 12 is not intended to accommodate golf shoes with sharp-edged metal spikes, which could potentially penetrate both the insole 34 and the outsole 30. However, this is not viewed as a limitation on the overshoe 10, since amateur golf courses do not normally permit metal spikes, and the vast majority of golfers own and wear golf shoes having only rubber or plastic blunted or smooth bottom cleats.

The boot shell 26 is fabricated from an integral piece of flexible, durable, and waterproof material, such as nitrile, SBR rubber, or an equivalent polymeric composition. The boot shell 26 is no less than 1/64 inches thick, and preferably has a thickness of at least 1/32 inches. The boot shell 26 is preferably made from a single piece of material which may be made to appear as separate panels for styling and aesthetic purposes only. Alternatively, the boot shell 26 may be made from multiple panels completely sealed at the seams, including a boot toe 44, a boot upper 46, and a boot leg 48. The edges 24 of the boot shell 26 create a central expansion gap longitudinally bisecting the front of the boot leg 48, the boot upper 46, and terminating in the boot toe 44. Spanning the expansion gap between the edges 24 of the boot shell 26 is a tongue 16 flanked by opposing paired gusset flaps 22. The tongue 16 and the gusset flaps 22, in combination with the boot shell 26, form a continuous and seam-free expansion double gusset system 36 that is completely waterproof whether in an open or closed state.

When the edges 24 are spread apart to the opened position as shown in FIG. 2, the double gusset system 36 permits the mouth 28 to open so widely that a user may fully insert a shoed foot 40 into the protective overshoe 10 and plant the cleats of the shoe 40 into the conforming insole 34 without the need to slide the shoe 40. The wide opening mouth 28 is an important feature of the boot portion 12, since the compressible nature of the insole 34 will not permit the shoe 40 to be repositioned by sliding once the cleats 42 have compressed the insole 34 locking them into place in that position. The positioning of the golf shoe 40 into the conforming insole 34 by asserting downward pressure on the insole 34 locks the golf shoe 40 in that position so that the golf shoe 40 and the overshoe 10 are retained in the exact spatial relationship of one to the other making the overshoe 10 an extension of the golf shoe 40. The insole 34 retains the cleats within formed compressions in the insole 34, thus preventing the golf shoe 40 from sliding about within the protective overshoe 10.

When the shoed foot of a user is fully inserted into the protective overshoe 10, the edges 24 may be pulled together to retain the overshoe 10 on the user's foot. The overshoe 10 is snugly secured to the user's foot by use of the two or more sets of hook and loop fastening strips 18 and 20, cooperating mating tabs which provide an adjustable means to fasten the boot shell 26 in the closed position. The fastening strips 18 and 20 in the closed position provide a sufficient downward force to hold the golf shoe 40 in place and prevent it from lifting up and separating from the boot portion 14 during play. Other equivalent fastening means may be used, including buckles, straps, or laces, provided those fastening means are accomplished without compromising the waterproof nature of the boot. Since the waterproof seal is created by the integral construction of the boot shell 26 with the tongue 16 and the gusset flaps 22, it is not necessary to bring the edges 24 completely into contact with one another; thus, the overshoe 10 may be fastened to the user's foot for comfort.

In summary, the protective overshoe for golf shoes 10 is a lightweight waterproof boot, easily donned by a golfer wearing standard rubber or plastic cleated golf shoes. The double gusset system 36 comprising the pair of gusset flaps 22 and the tongue 16 integrally connected to the boot shell 26 provide the overshoe 10 with a wide opening mouth 28 for easy entry of a shoed foot 40. When the boot.10 is secured to a golfer's foot with the adjustable fasteners 18 and 20, the gusset flaps 22 and tongue 16 fold neatly beneath the boot shell 26 and against the golfer's ankle and instep. The waterproof outsole 30, integrally sealed to the boot shell 26, includes a patterned grid of gripping cleats 38 for sure footing. The compressible insole 34 entraps the cleats 42 of the golf shoe 40 into a number of compressions formed upon insertion of the cleats 38 into the overshoe 10. The recesses are opposed and correspond to the particular array and geometry of the cleats 38 of the golf shoe 40 with the cleats 38 being retained in such located position. The golf shoe 40 and overshoe 10 are retained in the exact spatial relationship of one to the other making the overshoe 10 an extension of the golf shoe 40, thus preventing the golfer's foot from sliding around inside the overshoe 10 while in use. Upon removal of the golf shoe 40 from the overshoe 10, the smooth, resilient conforming insole 34 rebounds to its original substantially uniform smooth state so that a variety of golf shoe cleat arrays 42 may be used with the same overshoe 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive, with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing detailed description, as indicating the scope of the invention as well as all modifications which may fall within a range of equivalency which are also intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A waterproof protective overshoe adapted for fitting over a rubber or plastic smooth bottomed cleated golf shoe as worn by a golfer comprising: a sole portion integrally connected about the perimeter thereof to a boot portion extending upward from the foot of the golfer to above the ankle; said sole portion having a rugged outsole with a protruding patterned grid tread and a smooth resilient compressible conforming insole of sufficient depth and flexibility to entrap the rubber or plastic cleats of various geometries of said golf shoe by receiving the cleats into a corresponding array of recesses formed by compression of the insole by said cleats upon insertion of said golf shoe and thereby locking the golf shoe in place so that the golf shoe and overshoe are retained in the exact spatial relationship of one to the other making the overshoe an extension of the golf shoe; said insole being sufficiently resilient to rebound to its original substantially smooth surface configuration once the overshoe is removed, allowing a variety of golf shoe cleat patterns and types to be accommodated in the same overshoe; said boot portion having a double gusseted front with the gusset opening extending to the toe tip enabling easy insertion and removal of said golf shoe; and a plurality of adjustable fasteners for securing said boot to the shoed foot of the golfer which prevents the boot portion and golf shoe from separating.
 2. The waterproof protective overshoe of claim 1, wherein said boot portion is manufactured from nitrile, SBR rubber, or equivalent elastomeric material.
 3. The waterproof protective overshoe of claim 1, wherein said outsole is manufactured from 70A hardness rubber or equivalent material.
 4. The waterproof protective overshoe of claim 1, wherein said insole is manufactured from soft rubber, vinyl nitrile, or equivalent closed cell energy absorbing material. 